Deleting no longer prompts on Android
support.google.com
support.google.com
> I have to say, this is the most ridiculous complaint I've seen this month. Users complained for several years that Google Voice didn't have the ability to delete multiple text messages. Now it does. If you can't cope with figuring out the difference between a trash can icon and a file folder icon, then don't use Google Voice.
The insidiousness of assuming user bases as monolithic entities has been getting worse.
Instead of just assuming that a mythical monolith exists as a representation of users, maybe it's possible that many different types of users exist and that at least being able to add configurability would solve 90% of the issues that occur when groups of people with different opinions use the same app?
The recommended answer is not a productive discussion maker. You shouldn't hand-wave valid UI/UX design concerns due to wishes that another part of the user base clamored for. And besides, what if I tap the button by accident? Why was it a good idea to put the "Delete All" button next to the "Archive All" button? And before I forget, I've actually mistaken two different exit ramps before, so the first paragraph is uncalled for.
I loathe typing on a phone, or worse, clicking some tiny thing on the phone. The act of tensing my thumb and moving it makes it go haywire at times.
I'm not looking for sympathy, at all. But realize at least -some- of us users will misclick things often, especially on mobile.
1) CBD may not be legal/available where they are,
2) They may be in a job that tests regularly,
3) You're offering medical advice to someone when you don't even know what the diagnosis could be,
4) This person could easily be one of those who has adverse reactions to cannabinoids.
So yeah, shoving a jade egg up their cooch may actually have been the safer advice here.
I guess it's just some team in Google couldn't decide whether or not "Do you want to delete N messages?" is statistically a good enough prompt message. They'll figure it out eventually ;)
Speaking of XMPP I'm in the process of switching over to https://jmp.chat/ for a VOIP text solution which has worked great so far. If you own the Xmpp server you have even more control.
GV has always been a red headed step child product. It doesn't work natively with any android smart watch, its integrations into other products is sketchy and flaky (like there used to be a google voice widget for gmail). Features have been slowly deteriorating for years. The only reason I still use it as my main number is that it's easy to text in my browser. I don't know if that's easy to do with carrier websites but I've certainly never seen them advertise it.
It's 2021 and I still can't get video texts on GV. Well, I can, but they're literally less than 240p resolution. To the point it's difficult to even tell what's happening. And before potato quality, it was flat out not an option for like a decade when every single phone supported it.
Group texting also seems to not really work, and the "reactions" people on iphones use aren't supported.
Note how BluesCatReddit warns me to not use the feature I am asking about because it is surely a secret method that non-experts like me aren't supposed to know about, then when I point out that Google itself documents the feature, desperately tries to maintain his sage position above non-experts like me by generously deigning to tutor me on how to use said feature (which, again, he had no idea existed until I pointed it out to him). Absolutely nothing to do with actually answering my question, of course.
In seriousness, I recognize that name from past Google searches. They've been doing 'support' for a long time.
He needs a vacation. Right now. Like, no computer, somewhere elsewhere.
That’s the kind of response I’ve seen at work when covid is getting everyone angry and hateful.
There’s nothing helpful in it, it’s attacking, and frankly, he needs to go read it later and think about what he’s said from another person’s perspective, especially a person with any sort of disability. He claims “30 years IT experience” and yet seems to have never worked with a 70 year old and a computer. Even their mouse movement is shaken.
I've written here before about what killed Usenet (<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27636397>). Quoting myself:
>That said, there are server- and client-side anti-spam tools of varying effectiveness. A related but bigger problem for Usenet is people of the type this post discusses, those with actual mental illness; think "50 year olds with undiagnosed autism". Usenet is such a niche network nowadays that there has to be meaningful motivation to participate, and if the motivation is not a sincere interest in the subject it's, in my experience, going to be people with very troubled personal lives which their online behavior reflects. Again, as overall traffic declined, their relative contribution and visibility grew. This, not spam, is what has mostly killed Usenet.
Serving as volunteer "help" for a Google product on a Google Groups forum also counts as a niche network, with similar unfortunate results when not enough sane people participate to outweigh the weirdos.
Berating users is just ridiculous and does nothing but harm the product. I am seriously pissed off at this culture of "we know best." It is a disconnect from the userbase and we've constantly seen it lead to the product being overtaken by a company that doesn't follow this principle.
Moderating a community self-help site well requires a lot of people too, so just leaving it to the community seems like the only option for Google.
I've seen a lot of companies try these sites, and they start with real employees putting real responses, but it quickly spirals into unanswered questions and terribleness. The only ones that work are where there are lots of company paid moderators keeping things focused and productive, but I'm sure management thought community support was going to reduce support costs.
Another one that is more of an unfortunate clash: Ctrl-0 is the default for resetting the zoom in Firefox but in Sheets it will delete columns.
Being able to disable functionality or require a dialog box would fix both those issues.
How many levels of error do you want to cover? TFA's point is there is zero chance for recompense here. If you're not going to have Trash or Undo functionality, you need to prompt.
I get TFA's point is about irreversibility, but having those buttons close to each other is part of the problem.
Odd; in Excel Cmd-0/Ctrl-0 hides the selected cell's column, as opposed to deleting it.
Would love suggestions for feature+ compatible alternatives — and would actually prefer paid over free, since that means the incentives are better lined up.
I’ve run an app the last 8 years which is the same idea but lets you have multiple numbers, for as long or short as you want. Calling, texting, voicemail (with custom greeting), outgoing caller ID, etc.
There are unlimited plans for $9.99/mo or pay-as-you go plans starting at $2.99/mo which include a few minutes and texts each month but are primarily credit-based (about $0.02 per outgoing text or answered call minute; incoming texts are free)
Happy to answer any questions!
Outside of the phone number itself (or the cost to port), it’s pretty much pay for what you use. Does require some setup once you have a number, but as long as you’ve got a SIP capable device (or desktop/mobile app like Bria) you can use the number on it.
Where do these people crawl out of the woodwork from?
Tech really is something.
Some people want to help other people.
I've dealt with Bluescat before: https://np.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/hbatkp/whats_th...
Note how BluesCatReddit warns me to not use the feature I am asking about because it is surely a secret method that non-experts like me aren't supposed to know about, then when I point out that Google itself documents the feature, desperately tries to maintain his sage position above non-experts like me by generously deigning to tutor me on how to use said feature (which, again, he had no idea existed until I pointed it out to him). Absolutely nothing to do with actually answering my question, of course.